Methamphetamine in Arkansas

Meth Situation and Prevalence

Methamphetamine is Arkansas’ primary drug of concern. The state is encountering locally produced methamphetamine as well as the importation of methamphetamine produced in Mexico. Not only does the state’s rural landscape provide an ideal setting for illicit manufacturing, but the wide availability of precursor chemicals also contributes to the ease of manufacturing the drug. Criminal groups are acquiring thousands of cases of pseudoephedrine via wholesalers and use sophisticated schemes to illegally ship, at a considerable profit, pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine producers. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Arkansas State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.84% of persons aged 12 or older in Arkansas reported using methamphetamine within the past year. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug and Health, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007)

Results of a 2007 survey of Arkansas students show that approximately 4.4% of 9th graders, 6.1% of 10th graders, 7.4% of 11th graders, and 9.8% of 12th graders used methamphetamine one or more times during their lives. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Online: Comprehensive Results, 2008)

Drug Endangered Children

According to the El Paso Intelligence Center’s Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System, preliminary data show that there were 2 children affected by, 0 children injured at, and 0 children killed at methamphetamine laboratories in Arkansas during 2008.  There were 14 children affected by (0 injured/0 killed at) methamphetamine labs in the state during 2007. (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

Enforcement

There were 238 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 596 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in Arkansas during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 28.2 kilograms of methamphetamine in Arkansas. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Arkansas State Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 319 methamphetamine lab incidents in Arkansas during 2008. This includes all meth incidents, including labs, dumpsites, and/or chemical and glassware seizures. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Maps of Methamphetamine Lab Incidents)

Number of Meth Lab Incidents, Arkansas, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents
1999	330
2000	243
2001	404
2002	461
2003	776
2004	800
2005	417
2006	407
2007	303
2008	319

During FY 2008, 32.9% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in Arkansas had committed a drug offense. Approximately 47.9% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of Arkansas)

Prevention

If you would like to share information about your methamphetamine prevention program's efforts with us for possible inclusion on our site, please contact us.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2008, there were 2,150 admissions to treatment in Arkansas in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 15.2% of the total drug and alcohol admissions to treatment in the state. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, State Treatment Data, report run on April 21, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in Arkansas, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Facility Locator service at 800-662-HELP (4357). You can also conduct a search for programs online using SAMHSA’s Treatment Facility Locator Web site.

If you would like to contact the substance abuse agency in the state, please see SAMHSA’s State Substance Abuse Agencies page, which contains links to and contact information for agencies within each state.

Search

Conduct a search of the MethResources database for additional information about methamphetamine in the state.